EditorialIf, like us, you often find yourself gazing in awe at the incredible characters featured in artists’ portfolios, but you don’t know quite where to start when it comes to creating your own, let us help you!

This issue we bring you introductions to character creation in both 3ds Max and Maya. To begin, Shareyko Dmitry Petrovich takes a 2D concept by Denis Zilber (created by Denis for our sister magazine, 2DArtist) and shows you how to create reference planes and take it into the third dimension using 3ds Max. Meanwhile, Patrick Evrard gets you started in Maya with his helpful guide to creating stylized characters, beginning with a comprehensive breakdown of the major tools involved in a professional workflow.

You’ll also discover an exclusive interview with Greg Jennings, lead lighting artist for DreamWorks Animation. Greg gives a fantastic glimpse into one of the best-loved digital animation studios in the world! And don’t forget to check out our other helpings of tutorials, gallery inspiration and a fantastic little project overview of Robot by Mohammad Attaran while you’re here.